[Publib] Where is YOUR administrators' office? --- was Seattle PL

[James Casey]

My office is in a far corner of the basement.  Prime space -- especially around windows -- should be public space whenever possible.  I like the notion of patrons being able to "bring the book to the light" and enjoying a nice view of our park.  That doesn't mean that a fantastic light show and  huge ceiling spaces featuring glass that can only be cleaned via helicopter are up my line.  The Seattle library is more apt to get patrons "blinded by the light" or overwhelmed in an environment designed more for "effect" than "effectiveness".

So, my staff must go "down to the bunker" to have the honor/horror of visiting the Director.  

James B. Casey  --- my own views
Director of Oak Lawn Public Library
ALA Council Member (candidate for re-election)
My report on Mid Winter Meeting in Seattle is at
http://wikis.ala.org/midwinter2007/index.php/Council



-----Original Message-----
From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of John
Sent: Friday, February 02, 2007 11:49 AM
To: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: [Publib] Where is YOUR administrators' office? --- was Seattle PL

I thought that in this Brave New World of Management by ... (fill in the blank yourself, depending on your favorite management self-help book or book-on-CD/Playaway/E-book of the quickly-passing second) ... we weren't supposed to even whisper the "H word," i.e., (very softly now) "hierarchy."  Or any variation thereon.  We are all *collaborators* now.  I mean, isn't that the Gospel?  Isn't that what Mr./Ms. Generation-Whatchamacalit expects in her/his workplace?  Or maybe I'm behind the times.

On the other hand, if you're a Jungian, I seem to recall that old Carl claimed that the human psyche was naturally hierarchical.  I'm not a true Jungian, but I've often thought about that.  What CGJ said, I mean.

As for me and my office, I am in the southwest corner on the first floor, with big, tall windows that let in lots of light, which can be helpful in a dull, gray central Illinois winter, and at other times, too.  There are deceptively brief or narrow or shallow woods to the west, out of which emerge deer and, sometimes, a wild (as opposed to civilized?) turkey.  Beyond the shallowness lies land belonging to the Peoria Airport Authority, I think.  I'm not sure if I'm king of all I survey, or not.  I own neither ermine nor crown, though I have a kingly-looking tea cozy, acquired by my parental units in Europe, which I sometimes wear on Halloween as if it *were* a crown, when the pre-school story-timers parade through the library, gathering treats of library personnel.

TGIF!

("King John was not a good man--he had his little ways...." -- A. A. Milne)

John D. Richmond, Director
Alpha Park Public Library District
3527 So. Airport Road
Bartonville, IL 61607-1799
Ph: (309) 697-3822, x. 12
Fax: (309) 697-9681
Email: jrichmond at alphapark.org
______________________________________________________
"Satyrs and Sylvan boys were seen Peeping from forth their alleys green." -- Quoted in SISTER BERNADETTE'S BARKING DOG: The Quirky History & Lost Art of Diagramming Sentences, by Kitty Burns Florey

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